Dry cell and seal therefor



Nov. 1, 1932. w. G. wAm 1,885,736-

DRY CELL AND SEAL THEREFOR Filed March 15. 1930 Patented Nov. 1932 .UNITED l s'rATi-:s PATENT oFFicl-I Application led March 15, 1930. Serial No. l436,085.

This invention relates generally to dry cell batteries and has particular vreference to a dry cell battery having the seal of such a character as to permit excessive pressure within the E cell to escape and yet be capable of substandry cell batteries have been greatly reduced' tially preventing outside air from entering the cell and drying out materials in the interior of the cell.

Heretofore the eiiiciency and shelf life of due to what is known as gassing or breathing of the cells which results in a drying out of the materials formin the cell. A

Therefore, one of e main objects of this invention is to provide a dry cell which will pas " trde 2 is a brass .Ming 8 therein. Sea

l material 9 which is preferably formed of seal-v practically eliminate these diiculties.

Further and more limited objects of the invention will appear as the description pro` ceeds and by referencewto the accom anying drawing in which the is a vertical sectional view illustrating t e preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring now to the drawing the refer'- e'nce character 1 desi' ates a metal container or can which is pre erably formed of zinc, and in which is arranged a carbon electrode 2 and a mass 3 of depolarizing mix which is insulated from the can by means of a suitable liner 4. Surrounding the upper portion of the carbon electrode 2 is a washer 5 which completely-covers the mix. Also surrounding the upper portion of the carbon electrodey 2 is a washer 6 which is spaced from the washerA 5 so as to provide an expansion chamber. Se-

cured over the upper end of the carbon eleccaEg having a central o eng the upper end o the can and fillin the same is a layer of sealing ing wax. i

The\upper portion of the mass of mix is impregnated with a suitable oil, either vegetable or mineral, down to about the level indicated by the line a -a. The upper portion of the carbon electrode 2 is also impre nated with oil down to about the level indi-V cated by the line b-b. The Acell gasses due to the action of the zinc chloride on the carbonates inthe materials contained in the mix and carbon dioxide gas is given of. Hydrollongs the shelf gen is also given off due to the'local action on the zinc' can. Considerable gas pressure is obtained within the cell due to this action, and some means must be provided to prevent excessive pressure within the cell. The layer of oil on top of the mix permits excessive pressure to escape and at the same time substantially prevents outside air from penetrating the mix and drying out the same. This layer of oil on the top of the mix and in the pores of the carbon electrode permits gas to bubble up throu h the layer of oil andr escape from the cell w en excessive pressure is obtained within the cell. The oil however tends to reseal itself after the passage of gas bubbles therethrough and permanently opened channels are prevented. Without a self-sealing oil layer, -air can freely enter and leave the mix, causing evaporation of moisture and a drying out of the mix.

In the construction hereinbefore described', these gases accumulate in the expansion chamber and escape through the upper portion of the carbon electrode which is impregnated with oil-and thence through the opening 8 in the brass cap or lthrough openings between the seal and the carbon electrode. Y Air cannot enter or escape from the interior of the cell without passing througha layer of oil which is self-sealing. The upper por- 'tion lof the 'carbon electrode being impregnated with oil seems to form a self-closing vseal which prevents the outside air from enterin the cell through the carbon electrode. glhe upper portion of the mix is also impregnated with oilf'and serves as an additional safeguard and self-closing seal for preventing the outside air 'from penetrating the mass of mix. The oil also is somewhat soluble in the wax seal and tends to form a .90 more perfect bond between the seal and the wall of the zinc can.

The embodiment of the invention .herein disclosed is particularly adapted foruse in the small size cells such as are used in flashlights and B batteries, but the invention is also adapted for use with larger size' cells.

I *have lfound by actual 'tests and experiments that this construction materially prolife and eiciency of the cell.' 10

2 assunse It should be understood that the air expansion chamber in the cell may be omitted i desired and that the. step of impregnating the upper rtion of the mass of mix may omltte e Various other changes maybemade in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention and it is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is merely illustrative 1 and is not to be considered in a sense. It is therefore understood that the invention is limited only in accordance with the scope -of the appen ed claims. By the term o I include various mixtures containing oil. 15 Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A dry cell comprising a metal container having therein a carbon electrode and a mass of depolarizing mix insulated from said con- 90 tainer, a layer of 'sealing .material sealing the upper end of the container, the upper portion of said carbon electrode being 1mregnated with a suicient quantity of oil to orm a self-closing seal to prevent ingress of 95 airtherethrough,anapertured metal ca over sa1d carbon electrode, sai seal and metal -cap completely closing said cell except for the aperture in said ca 2. A dry cell comprising a me container 90 having therewithin a carbon electrode and a mass of depolarizin mix insulated from said container, a layer o sealing material sealing p the upper end of said container, the upper portion of said carbon electrode being 1mregnated with a sucient quantity of oil to germ a self-closing seal to prevent in of air into the cell therethrough an yet rmit excessive pressure within the cell to gg relieved therethrou h. 4' In testimony whereo I hereunto aix my signature.

' WALTER G. WAITT. 

